Steelton is known for its narrow, steep streets, multi-ethnic heritage and, of course, the giant steel mill that gave the town its name.
Unfortunately, it’s not been known for its quality food choices, a reputation that Maricruz Alvarez hopes to change.
Last month, Alvarez opened the Steelton Farmers Market at 750 N. Front St., a spacious, open grocery just a few blocks from the Harrisburg line that once housed the International Food Mart.
In fact, Harrisburg shoppers might recognize Alvarez, as, until recently, she was the proprietor of Garden Fresh Produce inside the Broad Street Market.
She decided to move into the much larger, 7,500-square-foot space to vastly expand the goods she’s able to offer, including a wide range of prepared food, deli meats, salads and groceries.
In addition, she hopes to bring broader, healthier choices to Steelton, a largely working class community that has few grocery options other than a smattering of corner stores.
“We want to give people something better,” she said. “So far, everyone’s welcomed us and told us that they’re glad we’re here.”
Here’s what you’ll find at the Steelton Farmers Market: fresh produce, grocery staples, special dietary items, hard-to-find imported goods and specialty foods that appeal to Steelton’s large population of immigrants from Latin America, the Middle East and Asia.
Here’s what you won’t find: cigarettes, lottery tickets and an overabundance of sugary drinks and salty snacks.
“We want to keep our items as healthy as possible,” said Alvarez.
The market has one of the widest selections of halal foods, those allowed under Islamic dietary guidelines, in the area, said Alvarez.
Middle Eastern favorites on the shelves include Barbody Egyptian rice, Cortas baba ghanoush and Laziza beverages.
But it’s not just the food–the piles of colorful, ripe oranges, bananas, lettuce, peaches, pears, potatoes and even pineapple– that make the Steelton Farmers Market unique in the town. It’s also the shopping experience, as the market has an open, airy layout that contrasts sharply with the congested, claustrophobic feel of many urban groceries.
“We hope to appeal to shoppers throughout the region,” said Alvarez. “But our main focus right now is on the people of Steelton.”
